Spinal Surgery Anesthesia Flashcards
What is scoliosis?
Lateral rotation of the spine > 10° with vertebral rotation.
What are the effects of thoracic spine scoliosis?
- ↓ Chest wall compliance
- Restrictive lung disease
- ↓ exercise tolerance
- Chronic hypoxemia secondary to V/Q Mismatch
Get PFTs! & Assess for Pulm HTN
What EKG/cardiac findings might one suspect to find on a scoliosis patient? (Select all that apply)
a. RVH
b. RAE
c. LVH
d. Bi-atrial enlargement
a & b
The increased pulmonary vascular resistance of chronic, significant scoliosis can lead to ___ _______.
cor pulmonale
Enlarged RV due to lung disease.
What muscles would you expect to be effected from a C5 injury?
- Partial diaphragmatic paralaysis
- Deltoids
- Biceps
- Brachialis
- Brachio-radialis
What are the hemodynamic consequences of injuries T5 and higher?
What is the treatment?
Physiologic Sympathectomy
- ↓BP
- ↓HR
Tx: Midodrine
If the patient has an injury at C7, which medication should be given to prevent worsening bradycardia?
a. Atropine
b. Glycopyrrolate
c. Epinephrine
d. Phenylephrine
e. Vasopressin
c. Epinephrine
Autonomic Hyperreflexia is most often seen with cord transection above the ____ level.
T5/T6
What s/s are seen with autonomic hyperreflexia?
- Severe, transient HTN
- Bradycardia
- Dysrhythmias
- Cutaneous dilation and constriction
In autonomic hyperreflexia, cutaneous vasodilation is seen _____ the site of injury, whilst cutaneous vasoconstriction is seen ____ the site of injury.
above ; below
What is the basic pathophysiology of Autonomic Dysreflexia?
Which Cranial nerves are responsible for altering the patient HR?
CN IX and X
What are the most common causes of Autonomic Dysreflexia?
- Distended bladder/bowel
- Noxious stimuli (think surgical pain)
What is the treatment for Autonomic Dysreflexia?
- Removal of stimulus
- Deepen anesthetic
- Direct-acting Vasodilators
Injury to C3-C5 results in….
Diaphragmatic respiratory failure
Is respiratory function affected by injury to C5-T7?
Yes; impairment of abdominal and intercostal respiratory support
Why is there an increased risk of pulmonary infection with cervical spine injuries?
- Inability to cough/ clear secretions
- Atelectasis
What is poikilothermia?
Inability to maintain constant core temp
What is the pathophysiology of poikilothermia?
- SNS disruption
- Temperature sensation disruption
- Inability to vasoconstrict below spinal cord injury
Spinal deformities are associated with _______ respiratory patterns, often necessitating PFT’s and an ABG.
Restrictive
Which spinal deformity was specifically mentioned to cause CV compromise, requiring spine surgery?
Kyphoscoliosis
Flaccidity in which two muscles would indicated possible cervical spine fracture?
- Deltoids
- Biceps
Examples of neurophysiologic monitoring:
- SSEP
- MEP
- EMG
What is the greatest risk with a total sitting position?
VAE (Venous Air Embolism)
An anterior approach for a thoracic spine procedure requires what position and equipment?
- Lateral position with bag
- Double Lumen ETT or bronchial blocker
May have to drop lung for access.